Radiography system and method for operating radiography system

ABSTRACT

In the radiography system, a camera image of the usage environment in which the electronic cassette is used is captured. An in-image cassette region of the electronic cassette is detected from the camera image. The cassette ID of the electronic cassette is acquired from the in-image cassette region. The acquired cassette ID is collated with the cassette ID of the use cassette set in the console to check whether the use cassette is present.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims priority under 35 USC 119 from Japanese PatentApplication No. 2017-156064, filed 10 Aug. 2017, the disclosure of whichis incorporated by reference herein.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a radiography system that performsradiography using an electronic cassette and a method for operating theradiography system.

2. Description of the Related Art

In a medical field, a diagnosis is made on the basis of a radiographicimage detected by a radiographic image detection device. Theradiographic image detection device includes a sensor panel. The sensorpanel is provided with an imaging region. A plurality of pixels aretwo-dimensionally arranged in the imaging region. The pixel is sensitiveto radiation which has been emitted from a radiation generationapparatus and then transmitted through a subject (patient) andaccumulates charge. The radiographic image detection device converts thecharge accumulated in the pixel into a digital signal and outputs thedigital signal as a radiographic image.

The radiographic image detection devices are classified into a fixedtype that is fixed to an imaging stand installed in an imaging room anda portable type in which, for example, a sensor panel is accommodated ina portable housing. The portable radiographic image detection device isreferred to as an electronic cassette. The electronic cassettes areclassified into a wired type that is supplied with power from acommercial power supply through a cable and a wireless type that issupplied with power from a battery provided in a housing.

The electronic cassette is used in various environments. The electroniccassette is used in the imaging room. In many cases, the electroniccassette is carried out of the imaging room and is then used since ithas high mobility. For example, the electronic cassette is used forvisit imaging in which an operator visits a hospital room in which apatient who is not able to move to the imaging room is present and takesa radiographic image. In addition, the electronic cassette is used inplaces other than medical facilities in order to capture a radiographicimage of an aged person who gets medical treatment at home or a patientwho is in an emergency condition due to an accident or a disaster.Hereinafter, imaging without using an imaging stand is referred to asfree imaging.

In a preparation operation before radiography, an operator, such as aradiology technician, relatively positions a radiation generationapparatus, an electronic cassette, and a patient. After positioning iscompleted, the operator operates the radiation generation apparatus toemit radiation and takes a radiographic image. JP2012-024399A(corresponding to US2013/114793A1) and JP1994-217973 (JP-H06-217973A,corresponding to U.S. Pat. No. 5,539,798A) disclose a technique whichappropriately assists positioning using an optical camera that capturesan image of a patient or an electronic cassette in the direction inwhich the radiation generation apparatus is disposed. For example, guidelines for positioning are inserted into a camera image captured by thecamera and the camera image is displayed on a display unit. The operatorcan perform positioning while seeing the guide lines.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

However, in a case in which the electronic cassettes are used, aplurality of electronic cassettes may be present in the usageenvironment. For example, in many cases, a plurality of electroniccassettes with different sizes or purposes are provided in the imagingroom. During visit imaging, in some cases, a treatment cart is providedwith a plurality of electronic cassettes and the plurality of electroniccassettes are carried in a hospital room which is the usage environment.

In a case in which the electronic cassette is the wireless type, anoperation of pairing the electronic cassette used for imaging and aconsole needs to be performed before imaging. The console is a controldevice that controls the electronic cassette or acquires a radiographicimage from the electronic cassette. The pairing means an operation ofsetting, as a use cassette, an electronic cassette used for imaging,that is, an electronic cassette selected as a communication partner ofthe console during imaging in the console.

In a case in which the pairing is completed, of course, the use cassetteand the console are not physically connected to each other by, forexample, a cable, but are logically connected to each other. Therefore,in a case in which a plurality of electronic cassettes are present inthe usage environment, the operator may not identify use cassette amongthe plurality of electronic cassettes even after the pairing iscompleted.

In a case in which the operator falsely recognizes a non-use cassette,which is an electronic cassette other than the paired use cassette, asthe use cassette and uses the non-use cassette for imaging, the non-usecassette does not normally operate and it is difficult to obtain aradiographic image of the patient.

For this reason, the technique disclosed in JP2012-024399A andJP1994-217973 (JP-H06-217973A) which easily searches for the usecassette from a plurality of electronic cassettes in the usageenvironment using the optical camera has been examined. JP2012-024399Aand JP1994-217973 (JP-H06-217973A) disclose the technique which assistspositioning using the camera, but do not disclose solutions to theabove-mentioned problems.

An object of the invention is to provide a radiography system thatenables a user to simply find a use cassette selected as an electroniccassette used for imaging in a console from a plurality of electroniccassettes in a usage environment and a method for operating theradiography system.

According to an aspect of the invention, there is provided a radiographysystem comprising an electronic cassette, a console, a camera imageacquisition unit, an in-image cassette detection unit, an identificationinformation acquisition unit, a collation unit, a search controller, anda display controller. The electronic cassette detects a radiographicimage based on radiation which has been emitted from a radiationgeneration apparatus and transmitted through a subject. The consolecommunicates with the electronic cassette to acquire the radiographicimage. The camera image acquisition unit acquires a camera image, whichindicates a usage environment including a place in which the electroniccassette is used and a periphery of the place, from an optical camerathat captures the usage environment. The in-image cassette detectionunit detects the electronic cassette included in the camera image on thebasis of the camera image and outputs an in-image cassette region of thedetected electronic cassette. The identification information acquisitionunit acquires identification information of the electronic cassetteincluded in the camera image as first identification information on thebasis of the camera image. The collation unit collates the firstidentification information with second identification information whichis identification information of a use cassette set as the electroniccassette used for radiography in the console. The search controllerdetermines the electronic cassette having the first identificationinformation matched with the second identification information as theuse cassette on the basis of a collation result of the collation unit,determines whether the use cassette is present in the camera image,generates a cassette region index indicating the in-image cassetteregion of the use cassette in a case in which the use cassette isdetermined to be present in the camera image, and outputs the cassetteregion index as a search result. The display controller performs controlsuch that the cassette region index and the camera image are displayedon a display unit.

The camera image is, for example, a motion picture or a still image.

For example, the camera is provided in the radiation generationapparatus or is provided in a room in a case in which the usageenvironment is an indoor environment.

For example, the first identification information and the secondidentification information include a first cassette ID and a secondcassette ID, each of which includes a character string uniquely given toeach electronic cassette, respectively.

In a case in which an ID marker indicating the first cassette ID isattached to an outer surface of the electronic cassette, for example,the identification information acquisition unit detects the ID markerfrom the camera image and acquires the first cassette ID and thecollation unit collates the first cassette ID with the second cassetteID.

For example, each of the first identification information and the secondidentification information may include information indicating anoperating state of the electronic cassette.

In a case in which a light source that emits identification light whichis light indicating the first identification information is provided inthe electronic cassette, the identification information acquisition unitmay detect the identification light from the camera image and acquirethe first identification information.

Preferably, the identification light is identified on the basis of atleast one of a color, a lighting pattern, or a lighting time.

The radiography system may further comprise: a direction detection unitthat detects a direction in which the electronic cassette is present inthe usage environment on the basis of the in-image cassette region; anda request signal transmission unit that transmits an identificationinformation request signal for requesting the first identificationinformation to the electronic cassette. In a case in which theelectronic cassette is included in the camera image, the request signaltransmission unit may transmit the identification information requestsignal in the direction detected by the direction detection unit andreceive the first identification information as a response from theelectronic cassette. The identification information acquisition unit mayacquire the first identification information received by the requestsignal transmission unit.

The identification information acquisition unit may output a warning ina case in which the electronic cassette is included in the camera image,but the first identification information is not capable of beingacquired from the electronic cassette.

In a case in which a plurality of the electronic cassettes are includedin the camera image, the search controller may output only the cassetteregion index for the use cassette among all of the electronic cassettesin the camera image.

In a case in which a plurality of the electronic cassettes are includedin the camera image, the in-image cassette detection unit may detect thein-image cassette regions of all of the electronic cassettes in thecamera image. The search controller may generate the cassette regionindices indicating the in-image cassette regions of all of theelectronic cassettes. In a case in which the use cassette is present inthe camera image, the search controller may output the cassette regionindices of the use cassette and the electronic cassettes other than theuse cassette in different aspects.

In a case in which the use cassette is absent in the camera image, thesearch controller may output, as the search result, a message indicatingthat the use cassette is absent in the camera image.

In a case in which the use cassette is absent in the camera image, thedisplay controller may display only the camera image on the displayunit.

In a case in which a plurality of the electronic cassettes are includedin the camera image and do not include the use cassette, the searchcontroller may output a selection operation portion for selecting anyone of the plurality of electronic cassettes included in the cameraimage as the use cassette, receive an input of an operation for theselection operation portion through the selection operation portiondisplayed on the display unit, and set the selected electronic cassetteas the use cassette.

In a case in which a field of view of the camera image is changed andthe use cassette that has been present in the camera image before thefield of view is changed disappears from the camera image after thefield of view is changed, the search controller may output a directionindex indicating a direction in which the use cassette that has beenpresent in the camera image before the field of view is changed ispresent and the display controller may display the camera image whosefield of view has been changed and the direction index on the displayunit.

The radiography system may further comprise an irradiation prohibitionsignal output unit that outputs an irradiation prohibition signal forprohibiting the start of the emission of the radiation in the radiationgeneration apparatus in a case in which the use cassette is absent inthe camera image.

In long-length imaging in which radiography is performed, with two ormore of electronic cassettes arranged in a line, and a plurality ofradiographic images detected by the electronic cassettes are combined togenerate a radiographic image indicating a long imaging range, in a casein which a plurality of electronic cassettes are included in the cameraimage and include two or more use cassettes, the search controller mayoutput the cassette region indices indicating the in-image cassetteregions of the two or more use cassettes in the camera image.

In a case in which an arrangement order of the plurality of electroniccassettes used for the long-length imaging is set in the console, thesearch controller may generate an arrangement order screen on whichfirst arrangement order information in which the arrangement order ofthe plurality of electronic cassettes included in the camera image isrepresented by the first identification information and secondarrangement order information in which an arrangement order of theplurality of electronic cassettes set in the console is represented bythe second identification information are displayed in parallel.

According to another aspect of the invention, there is provided a methodfor operating a radiography system comprising an electronic cassettethat detects a radiographic image based on radiation which has beenemitted from a radiation generation apparatus and transmitted through asubject and a console that communicates with the electronic cassette toacquire the radiographic image. The method comprises a camera imageacquisition step, an in-image cassette detection step, an identificationinformation acquisition step, a collation step, a search control step,and a display control step. In the camera image acquisition step, acamera image which indicates a usage environment including a place inwhich the electronic cassette is used and a periphery of the place isacquired from an optical camera which captures the usage environment. Inthe in-image cassette detection step, the electronic cassette includedin the camera image is detected on the basis of the camera image and anin-image cassette region of the detected electronic cassette is output.In the identification information acquisition step, identificationinformation of the electronic cassette included in the camera image isacquired as first identification information on the basis of the cameraimage. In the collation step, the first identification information iscollated with second identification information which is identificationinformation of a use cassette set as the electronic cassette used forradiography in the console. In the search control step, the electroniccassette having the first identification information matched with thesecond identification information is determined as the use cassette onthe basis of a collation result in the collation step; it is determinedwhether the use cassette is present in the camera image; a cassetteregion index indicating the in-image cassette region of the use cassetteis generated in a case in which the use cassette is determined to bepresent in the camera image; and the cassette region index is output asa search result. In the display control step, control is performed suchthat the cassette region index and the camera image are displayed on adisplay unit.

According to the invention, it is determined whether the use cassettethat has been selected as the electronic cassette used for imaging inthe console is present in the camera image obtained by capturing theusage environment. In a case in which the use cassette is determined tobe present in the camera image, the camera image and the cassette regionindex indicating the in-image cassette region of the use cassette aredisplayed. Therefore, it is possible to simply find the use cassetteselected in the console from a plurality of electronic cassettes in theusage environment.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a diagram schematically illustrating the configuration of anX-ray imaging system.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view illustrating a front surface side of anelectronic cassette.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view illustrating a rear surface side of theelectronic cassette.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram schematically illustrating the electricalconfiguration of a console.

FIG. 5 is a functional block diagram illustrating each unit forimplementing the basic function of the console.

FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating registered cassette information.

FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating use cassette setting information.

FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating imaging order information.

FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating an imaging order display screen.

FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating another example of the imaging orderdisplay screen.

FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating a use cassette selection screen: (A)of FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating the entire use cassette selectionscreen; and (B) of FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating a selected imagingorder display region.

FIG. 12 is a diagram illustrating the relation between various kinds ofinformation after the use cassette is selected.

FIG. 13 is a functional block diagram illustrating each unit forimplementing an electronic cassette search function.

FIG. 14 is a diagram illustrating a camera image.

FIG. 15 is a diagram illustrating a camera image after an in-imagecassette region is detected.

FIG. 16 is an enlarged diagram illustrating the camera image.

FIG. 17 is a diagram illustrating a camera image into which a cassetteregion index has been inserted.

FIG. 18 is a diagram illustrating a camera image changed over time.

FIG. 19 is a diagram illustrating a camera image in a case in which theuse cassette is absent.

FIG. 20 is a flowchart illustrating the procedure of a search process.

FIG. 21 is a flowchart illustrating the procedure of a first cassette IDacquisition process.

FIG. 22 is a flowchart illustrating the procedure of a cassette regionindex display process.

FIG. 23 is a flowchart illustrating the procedure of a process in a casein which the use cassette is absent.

FIG. 24 is a flowchart illustrating a second embodiment.

FIG. 25 is a diagram illustrating an irradiation prohibition signaloutput unit according to a second embodiment.

FIG. 26 is a perspective view illustrating a front surface side of anelectronic cassette according to a third embodiment.

FIG. 27 is a perspective view illustrating a rear surface side of theelectronic cassette according to the third embodiment.

FIG. 28 is a diagram illustrating the outline of a process according tothe third embodiment.

FIG. 29 is a flowchart illustrating the procedure of a first cassette IDacquisition process according to the third embodiment.

FIG. 30 is a diagram illustrating the outline of a process according toa fourth embodiment.

FIG. 31 is a flowchart illustrating the procedure of a first cassette IDacquisition process according to the fourth embodiment.

FIG. 32 is a flowchart illustrating the procedure of a cassette regionindex display process according to a fifth embodiment.

FIG. 33 is a diagram illustrating a camera image according to the fifthembodiment.

FIG. 34 is a diagram illustrating the outline of an electronic cassetteselection operation receiving function according to the fifthembodiment.

FIG. 35 is a flowchart illustrating the procedure of a process with aselection operation receiving function according to the fifthembodiment.

FIG. 36 is a diagram illustrating a camera image according to a sixthembodiment: (A) of FIG. 36 illustrates a camera image before a field ofview is changed; and (B) of FIG. 36 illustrates a camera image after thefield of view is changed.

FIG. 37 is a flowchart illustrating the procedure of a process in a casein which the use cassette is absent in the sixth embodiment.

FIG. 38 is a diagram illustrating an aspect using status information ina seventh embodiment.

FIG. 39 is a diagram illustrating long-length imaging according to aneighth embodiment: (A) of FIG. 39 illustrates the actual usage of theelectronic cassettes; and (B) of FIG. 39 illustrates a camera image.

FIG. 40 is a diagram illustrating an electronic cassette arrangementorder screen in long-length imaging.

FIG. 41 is a diagram illustrating an example in which a camera isprovided in a treatment cart in a ninth embodiment.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS First Embodiment

In FIG. 1, an X-ray imaging system 10 that uses X-rays as radiationincludes an X-ray generation apparatus 11, an X-ray imaging apparatus12, and a camera 26. The X-ray generation apparatus 11 includes an X-raysource 13 corresponding to a radiation source and a radiation sourcecontrol device 14 that controls the X-ray source 13. The X-ray imagingapparatus 12 includes an electronic cassette 16 and a console 17.

FIG. 1 illustrates an aspect in which X-ray imaging is performed for asubject H that lies on a bed 21 using the electronic cassette 16 in animaging room in which the X-ray imaging system 10 is installed. Theelectronic cassette 16 is placed on, for example, the bed 21 or is heldin the arms of the subject H depending on an imaging part and thenimaging is performed. The X-ray imaging illustrated in FIG. 1 is freeimaging without using an imaging stand.

The imaging room is equipped with an upright imaging stand (notillustrated) or a decubitus imaging stand (not illustrated) on which theelectronic cassette 16 is placed in addition to the bed 21. In addition,for the electronic cassette 16, a plurality of electronic cassettes 16having different sizes or purposes are provided. FIG. 1 illustrates, forexample, an electronic cassette 16A carried by an operator OP, such as aradiology technician, that performs an imaging operation, an electroniccassette 16B that is placed on the bed 21, and electronic cassettes 16Cand 16D that are accommodated in a cradle 22 with a charging function.

Hereinafter, in a case in which the electronic cassettes 16A to 16D needto be distinguished from each other, the electronic cassettes aredenoted by combinations of number “16” and subdivision codes such asalphabets “A” to “D”. In a case in which the electronic cassettes 16A to16D do not need to be distinguished from each other, the electroniccassettes are denoted by only number “16” without a subdivision such asan alphabet.

The camera 26 is an optical camera that captures a usage environment inwhich the electronic cassette 16 is used. The usage environment includesan imaging place in which the subject H is present and the periphery ofthe imaging place. The camera 26 is attached to the ceiling of theimaging room, captures an image of the imaging room from the upper side,and has the field of view in which substantially the entire area of theimaging room is included as an imaging range. In order to widen thefield of view, for example, the following camera is used as the camera26: a camera that can rotate a lens 360° to change the field of view; ora camera including a wide-angle lens such as a fish-eye lens. As such,since the imaging range of the camera 26 includes the entire area of theimaging room, a plurality of electronic cassettes 16A and 16D which arescattered in the imaging room can be included in the field of view.

The camera 26 outputs, for example, a camera image 76 (see FIG. 14)which is an optical image indicating a captured usage environment. Thecamera image 76 is, for example, a color image and is a motion picture.The camera 26 includes a charge coupled device (CCD) image sensor or acomplementary metal-oxide-semiconductor (CMOS) image sensor and outputsthe captured camera image 76 as digital data. The camera 26 is connectedto a network, such as a local area network (LAN) which is a wirednetwork or a wireless network, and transmits the camera image 76 to theconsole 17 through the network. The camera image 76 is used in a case inwhich the console 17 performs a function of searching for the electroniccassette 16 as described below.

The X-ray source 13 includes an X-ray tube 13 a that emits X-rays and anirradiation field limiter (collimator) 13 b that limits the irradiationfield of the X-rays emitted from the X-ray tube 13 a. In this example,the X-ray source 13 is a fixed type that is fixed to the ceiling of theimaging room. The position of the X-ray source 13 in the horizontaldirection can be moved by an overhead traveling device (not illustrated)and the height of the X-ray source 13 is adjusted by expanding orcontracting a support 13 c of the X-ray source 13.

The X-ray tube 13 a includes a filament that emits thermal electrons anda target that collides with the thermal electrons emitted from thefilament and emits X-rays. The irradiation field limiter 13 b has, forexample, a structure in which four lead plates that shield X-rays areprovided on each side of a rectangle and a rectangular irradiationopening which transmits X-rays is provided at the center. Theirradiation field limiter 13 b moves the positions of the lead plates tochange the size of the irradiation opening, thereby limiting theirradiation field.

The radiation source control device 14 includes a high voltage generatorthat supplies a high voltage to the X-ray source 13 and a controllerthat controls a tube voltage for determining an energy spectrum of theX-rays emitted from the X-ray source 13, a tube current for determiningthe amount of radiation emitted per unit time, and an X-ray irradiationtime. The high voltage generator increases an input voltage using atransformer to generate a high tube voltage and supplies driving powerto the X-ray source 13 through a high-voltage cable. The irradiationconditions, such as the tube voltage, the tube current, and theirradiation time, are manually set by the operator OP through anoperation panel of the radiation source control device 14. In addition,the irradiation conditions are set by communication with the X-rayimaging apparatus 12.

An irradiation switch 23 is connected to the radiation source controldevice 14 through a signal cable. The irradiation switch 23 is operatedby the operator OP. The irradiation switch 23 is pressed in two stages.In a case in which the irradiation switch 23 is pressed to the firststage, the radiation source control device 14 starts to warm up theX-ray source 13. In a case in which the irradiation switch 23 is pressedto the second stage, the radiation source control device 14 directs theX-ray source 13 to start to emit X-rays. The radiation source controldevice 14 includes a timer and operates the timer to measure the X-rayemission time. In a case in which the irradiation time set in theirradiation conditions elapses, the radiation source control device 14stops the emission of X-rays.

As illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3, the electronic cassette 16 includes asensor panel (not illustrated) and a housing 28 that accommodates thesensor panel. The electronic cassette 16 is a portable X-ray imagedetection device which receives X-rays which have been emitted from theX-ray source 13 and then transmitted through the subject H and detectsan X-ray image of the subject H based on the X-rays.

The sensor panel includes, for example, a scintillator and an opticaldetection substrate. The scintillator is a phosphor that converts X-raysinto visible light. The optical detection substrate is a substrate inwhich a plurality of pixels that convert the visible light emitted fromthe scintillator into an electric signal and accumulate charge aretwo-dimensionally arranged. In addition, a direct-conversion-type sensorpanel that directly converts X-rays into charge, without using ascintillator, may be used.

The electronic cassette 16 performs an image detection operation ofdetecting an X-ray image in synchronization with the emission of theX-rays from the X-ray source 13. As a synchronization method, a controlsignal for controlling an operation time is transmitted between theelectronic cassette 16 and the X-ray generation apparatus 11 through theconsole 17 by communication to control the operation time.Alternatively, in a case in which the electronic cassette 16 has anirradiation start detection function of automatically detecting thestart of the emission of X-rays, the irradiation start detectionfunction is used to control the operation time. In a case in which theirradiation start detection function is used, the transmission of thecontrol signal between the electronic cassette 16 and the X-raygeneration apparatus 11 by communication is not required.

The housing 28 is, for example, made of stainless steel and atransmission plate that transmits X-rays is provided on a front surfaceof the housing 28 illustrated in FIG. 2. The housing 28 is a flat plateand has a substantially rectangular shape in a plan view. The electroniccassette 16 is a wireless type that can wirelessly communicate with theconsole 17. A communication unit 29 that communicates with the console17 is provided in the housing 28 of the electronic cassette 16. Thecommunication unit 29 includes a wired communication unit using acommunication cable and a wireless communication unit that performscommunication with radio waves.

As illustrated in FIG. 3, a battery 31 that supplies power to the sensorpanel or the communication unit 29 is provided on a rear surface of theelectronic cassette 16. The electronic cassette 16 can be driven by abattery in addition to a commercial power supply using a power cable.

Cassette identification data (ID) which is identification informationfor identifying the electronic cassette 16 is recorded on a memory (notillustrated) provided in the electronic cassette 16. The cassette ID isuniquely allocated to each electronic cassette 16. The cassette ID is,for example, a character string including symbols or numbers. In a casein which the console 17 and the electronic cassette 16 communicate witheach other, the cassette ID is added to communication data. In a case inwhich the console 17 transmits a control signal to the electroniccassette 16, the console 17 adds the cassette ID to the control signalto specify the electronic cassette 16 which is a transmissiondestination. In addition, in a case in which the console 17 receives anX-ray image from the electronic cassette 16, the console 17 reads thecassette ID from the accessory information of the X-ray image andspecifies the electronic cassette 16 which is the transmission source ofthe X-ray image.

A plurality of ID markers 32 are provided on an outer surface of thehousing 28. The cassette ID is recorded on the ID marker 32. Thecassette ID is the same as the cassette ID recorded on the memory (notillustrated) of the electronic cassette 16. In the X-ray imaging system10, the cassette ID recorded on the ID marker 32 is used for thefunction of searching for the electronic cassette 16 using the cameraimage 76, which will be described below.

For example, the cassette ID is recorded in the form of aone-dimensional bar code or a two-dimensional bar code on the ID marker32. A character string of the cassette ID may be recorded without anychange. The ID marker 32 is provided on the outer surface of the housing28 such that it can be recognized in the camera image 76. In thisexample, two ID markers 32 are provided on a diagonal line in each ofthe front surface of the housing 28 on which X-rays are incident and therear surface opposite to the front surface. In addition, one ID marker32 is provided on each of four side surfaces. Since the ID markers 32are provided at a plurality of positions of the housing 28, the IDmarkers 32 are likely to be included in the camera image 76. Therefore,the probability that the ID markers 32 will be detected from the cameraimage 76 increases.

Here, the outer surface of the housing 28 includes the front and rearsurfaces of the housing 28 and the side surfaces connected to both thefront surface and the rear surface. At least a portion of the sidesurface may be curved. In addition, the side surfaces and the front andrear surfaces may be connected to each other, without a chamfer or aseam at the boundaries therebetween. In a case in which the ID marker 32is provided on the front surface of the housing 28, it is preferable todispose the ID marker 32 outside an imaging region in order to preventthe ID marker 32 from being included in the X-ray image. The ID marker32 may be provided in the imaging region. In this case, it is preferablethat the ID marker 32 is made of a material that is not included in theX-ray image.

The imaging region of the electronic cassette 16 has various sizes, suchas a 14×17 rectangular size, a 17×17 square size, and a 10×12rectangular size. In FIG. 1, for example, the electronic cassettes 16Aand 16C are a 14×17 type, the electronic cassette 16B is a 10×12 type,and the electronic cassette 16D is a 17×17 type. The electroniccassettes 16A to 16D with different sizes are used for the purpose.

Some electronic cassettes 16 are used for free imaging as illustrated inFIG. 1 and some electronic cassettes 16 are placed on an upright imagingstand or a decubitus imaging stand and are then used. In general, aplurality of different electronic cassettes 16 that are used for variouspurposes are present in the imaging room.

In a case in which the electronic cassette 16 is used for imaging, theelectronic cassette 16 needs to communicate with the console 17, unlikea film cassette or an imaging plate (IP) cassette. Therefore, theoperator OP selects the electronic cassette 16 to be used for X-rayimaging as a use cassette before performing X-ray imaging. The usecassette is selected by the console 17. As described above, in a case inwhich the use cassette is selected, the console 17 communicates with theselected use cassette to transmit various kinds of control informationto the use cassette or to receive the X-ray image from the use cassette.The operation of the console 17 selecting the use cassette is referredto as, for example, pairing.

In a case in which the electronic cassette 16 is wirelessly connected tothe console 17, a communication cable is not required. Therefore, in acase in which a plurality of electronic cassettes 16 are present in theusage environment as illustrated in FIG. 1, it is difficult to checkwhich of the electronic cassettes 16 is the use cassette paired with theconsole 17 at a glance. The console 17 has a search function ofrecognizing the ID markers 32 with the camera image 76 to search for theuse cassette. The ID markers 32 are used for the search function.

In FIG. 4, the console 17 is implemented by installing, for example, anoperation program 50 for a console in a notebook personal computer. Theconsole 17 includes a touch panel 33, an input device 34, a storagedevice 35, a memory 36, a central processing unit (CPU) 41, and acommunication interface (I/F) 37. These units are connected to eachother through a data bus 38. The touch panel 33 functions as an inputdevice that receives an operation command input by a touch operation andfunctions as a display unit that displays various kinds of information.

The storage device 35 is, for example, a hard disk drive provided in theconsole 17. In addition, the storage device 35 may be an external deviceor a network storage that can be accessed through a network. The storagedevice 35 stores a control program, such as an operating system, variousapplication programs, and various kinds of data associated with theprograms. The application programs include the operation program 50 thatcauses a notebook personal computer to function as the console 17.

The memory 36 is a work memory that is used by the CPU 41 to performprocesses. The CPU 41 loads a program stored in the storage device 35 tothe memory 36 and executes a process based on the program to control theoverall operation of each unit of the console 17. The communication I/F37 performs communication with the electronic cassette 16 or a network43. The network 43 is, for example, a LAN installed in a hospitalincluding the imaging room. The console 17 is connected to variousservers 44 and the camera 26 in the hospital through the network 43 soas to communicate therewith. The console 17 receives the camera image 76from the camera 26 through the network 43 and receives an X-ray imagingorder from the server 44.

The basic functions of the console 17 will be described with referenceto FIGS. 5 to 12. The basic functions of the console 17 include, forexample, a display function of displaying the imaging order or the X-rayimage received from the electronic cassette 16 on the touch panel 33which is a display unit, an image processing function of processing theX-ray image, and a cassette control function of controlling theelectronic cassette 16.

As illustrated in FIG. 5, in a case in which the operation program 50 isrun, the CPU 41 functions as a graphical user interface (GUI) controller51, a cassette controller 52, an X-ray image processing unit 53, anetwork communication unit 54, and a search processing unit 55 incooperation with the memory 36. The GUI controller 51 is a displaycontroller that performs control for displaying various kinds ofinformation, such as the X-ray image captured by the electronic cassette16 and an operation screen generated by a GUI, on the touch panel 33. Inaddition, the GUI controller 51 functions as an input controller thatreceives operation commands input from the input device 34 or the touchpanel 33 in cooperation with the operation screen.

The storage device 35 stores the information of the operation screenillustrated in, for example, FIG. 9 or FIG. 10. The GUI controller 51accesses the storage device 35, reads the information of the operationscreen, and generates an operation screen to be output to the touchpanel 33.

The cassette controller 52 communicates with the electronic cassette 16through the communication I/F 37 to control the electronic cassette 16.The cassette controller 52 transmits a command to turn on or off theelectronic cassette 16, a command to switch the mode to a power savingmode and an imaging preparation state (ready status), and various kindsof cassette control information, such as the irradiation conditions,received from the GUI controller 51 to the electronic cassette 16.

A plurality of electronic cassettes 16 that can be controlled by theconsole 17 are registered in the console 17 in advance. The registrationinformation is stored as registered cassette information 57 in thestorage device 35. As illustrated in FIG. 6, a cassette ID, a name, aplane size, a communication address, and specification information arerecorded in the registered cassette information 57. The specificationinformation includes, for example, the correction information of eachelectronic cassette 16 used to correct the X-ray image.

The correction information includes, for example, offset data used tocorrect a dark current and defective pixel data related to the defectsof pixels in the sensor panel. In the registered cassette information 57illustrated in FIG. 6, five electronic cassettes 16 with cassette IDs“DR0001” to “DR0005” are registered. Cassettes A to D corresponding tothe cassette IDs “DR0001” to “DR0004” correspond to the electroniccassettes 16A to 16D, respectively. The use cassette used for X-rayimaging is selected from the registered cassettes which are theelectronic cassettes 16 registered in the registered cassetteinformation 57.

The information of the electronic cassette 16 which has been selectedfrom the registered cassettes by the operator OP and then set as the usecassette by the console 17 is recorded in the use cassette settinginformation 58 illustrated in FIG. 7. The use cassette settinginformation 58 includes a setting information item, a status item, andan imaging order item, in addition to a cassette ID and a name which arethe same as those in the registered cassette information 57. The settinginformation is information indicating whether the electronic cassettehas been set as the use cassette. In a case in which the electroniccassette has been set as the use cassette, “set” is written in thesetting information item. In a case in which the electronic cassette hasnot been set as the use cassette, “unset” is written in the settinginformation item.

Status information indicating the operating state of the electroniccassette 16 which has been set as the use cassette is recorded in thestatus item. Examples of the status include a ready status in whichpreparation for imaging has been completed and a sleep status in whichthe electronic cassette is on standby and is in a power saving mode. Ina case in which the use cassette has been set, the cassette controller52 communicates with the electronic cassette 16 set as the use cassetteand monitors the status of the use cassette. Then, the cassettecontroller 52 records the status information of the use cassette in theuse cassette setting information 58. The cassette controller 52 controlsthe status of the use cassette and updates the status information at anytime with a change in the status of the use cassette.

The imaging order item indicates an imaging order corresponding to theX-ray imaging performed using the use cassette. An order ID of theimaging order corresponding to the use cassette is recorded in theimaging order item (see FIG. 12). In a case in which the X-ray imagingusing the use cassette has been completed, the information of theimaging order in the use cassette setting information 58 is cleared.FIG. 7 illustrates a state in which no electronic cassettes 16 are setas the use cassette.

FIG. 8 illustrates an example of imaging order information 59. Theimaging order is, for example, imaging request information that isissued from a diagnosis and treatment department, such as a surgerydepartment or an internal department in which X-ray imaging isperformed, to a radiology department and includes items such as an orderID, a subject ID (patient ID), and an imaging menu. The imaging menuincludes an imaging part, such as the chest or the abdomen, an imagingposture, such as an upright position or a decubitus position, andinformation for designating the imaging procedure of X-ray imagingincluding an imaging direction, such as the front or the rear.

In addition to the above-mentioned items, a subject information item(not illustrated) indicating the name, sex, age, height, and weight ofthe subject H is included in the imaging order information 59. Inaddition, the imaging order information 59 includes items, such as adiagnosis and treatment department to which a person who requestsimaging belongs, the ID of the person who requests imaging, a receivingdate and time, the purpose of imaging, such as the monitoring ofconditions after the surgery or the determination of the effect oftreatment remedies, and orders issued from the person who requestsimaging to the operator OP.

In addition, the imaging order information 59 includes a completioninformation item and a use cassette item for each imaging order. Thecompletion information is information about whether X-ray imaging hasbeen completed. In a case in which imaging has been completed, “imagingcompleted” is recorded in the completion information item. In a case inwhich imaging has not been completed, “uncompleted” is recorded in thecompletion information item. The cassette ID of the use cassette usedfor X-ray imaging is recorded in the use cassette item. In this example,for an imaging order “OD0001”, imaging has been completed and thecassette ID “DR0001” of the use cassette is recorded.

The console 17 acquires the imaging order from the server 44 that formsa hospital information system (HIS) or a radiation information system(RIS) and registers the imaging order in the imaging order information59. In addition, the imaging order may be directly input by the operatorOP through the console 17 and then registered, instead of being acquiredfrom the server 44. In a case in which X-ray imaging for each imagingorder has been completed, the data of the X-ray images corresponding toeach imaging order is recorded in the imaging order information 59 so asto be associated with each imaging order.

Returning to FIG. 5, the cassette controller 52 specifies the cassetteID of the use cassette with reference to the use cassette settinginformation 58 and communicates with the specified use cassette. Thecassette controller 52 receives the data of the X-ray image from the usecassette and transmits the received X-ray image to the X-ray imageprocessing unit 53. As described above, for example, the cassettecontroller 52 controls or monitors the status of the use cassette.

The X-ray image processing unit 53 performs various types of imageprocessing, such as offset correction, defect correction, sharpnesscorrection, and frequency processing, for the X-ray image. Instead ofthe console 17, the electronic cassette 16 may perform some of thevarious types of image processing for the X-ray image, for example,offset correction and defect correction. The X-ray image subjected tothe image processing in the X-ray image processing unit 53 is stored in,for example, the storage device 35 of the console 17, is transmitted toan image storage server, such as a picture archiving and communicationsystem (PACS) server, and is then stored in the server.

The network communication unit 54 communicates with the server 44through the communication I/F 37 and the network 43 and receives theimaging order from the RIS or the HIS or transmits the X-ray image tothe image storage server such as a picture archiving and communicationsystem (PACS) server. In addition, the network communication unit 54functions as a camera image acquisition unit that acquires the cameraimage 76 from the camera 26. The functions of the search processing unit55 will be described below.

An imaging order display screen 61 and a use cassette selectionoperation will be described with reference to FIGS. 9 to 12. The imagingorder display screen 61 illustrated in FIGS. 9 and 10 is an operationscreen that is output to the touch panel 33 by the GUI controller 51.

The imaging order display screen 61 includes a patient informationdisplay region 62 in which patient information including the ID of theimaging order and the name, ID, sex, and age of a patient is displayed,an imaging order display region 63 in which the imaging ordersregistered in the console 17 are displayed, and an image display region64 in which a captured X-ray image is displayed. A cassette selectionbutton 66 for selecting the use cassette used for imaging from theregistered cassettes is provided below the imaging order display region63. Reference numeral 67 indicates an operation button for issuing acassette search command and reference numeral 68 indicates a settingbutton for various settings.

In a case in which there are a plurality of imaging orders, theplurality of imaging orders are displayed in a list form in the imagingorder display region 63. In this example, the imaging order displayregion 63 includes three imaging orders illustrated in FIG. 9. Theimaging orders are displayed in the imaging order display region 63 onthe basis of the imaging order information 59 illustrated in FIG. 8.Information for designating the imaging procedure of each imaging order,such as “the chest, an upright position, and the front” is displayed ineach imaging order display field 63 a of the imaging order displayregion 63.

In a case in which an operation of clicking a mouse of the input device34 or a touch operation through the touch panel 33 is performed for onedisplay field 63 a, an imaging order corresponding to the display field63 a is designated. The display field 63 a of the designated imagingorder is highlighted (hatched) so as to be distinguished from the otherimaging orders which are not designated. This example shows a state inwhich the imaging order “OD0001” is designated.

A thumbnail image which is a minified image of the captured image isdisplayed at the left end of the display field 63 a corresponding to theprocessed (captured) imaging order. No thumbnail images are displayed inthe display fields 63 a corresponding to the unprocessed imaging orders.This example shows a state in which the imaging order “OD0001” has beenprocessed, a thumbnail image is displayed in the display field 63 acorresponding to the processed imaging order, the other two imagingorders have not been processed, and no thumbnail images are displayed inthe display fields 63 a corresponding to the unprocessed imaging orders.

A captured X-ray image of the imaging order selected in the imagingorder display region 63 is displayed in the image display region 64. Inthis example, an X-ray image corresponding to the imaging order “OD0001”is displayed. Of course, an image selected from a plurality of capturedX-ray images may be displayed in the image display region 64.

For example, a selection operation (also referred to as a pairingoperation) of selecting the electronic cassette 16 to be used for X-rayimaging corresponding to the unprocessed imaging order is performed asfollows. First, as illustrated in FIG. 10, an unprocessed imaging order“OD0002” is selected in the imaging order display region 63. In thisstate, in a case in which the cassette selection button 66 is operated,as illustrated in (A) and (B) of FIG. 11, a use cassette selectionscreen 69 is displayed on the touch panel 33. The registered cassetteinformation 57 is displayed on the use cassette selection screen 69.

The operator OP determines which of the electronic cassette 16 issuitable for X-ray imaging corresponding to the imaging order on thebasis of the content of the imaging order and selects an electroniccassette 16 to be used for X-ray imaging from the registered cassettes.The selection operation is performed by a touch operation or a mouseclick operation. (A) of FIG. 11 illustrates a state in which a cassetteC with a cassette ID “DR0003” is selected as represented by hatching. Ina case in which the selection operation is performed in this way, theconsole 17 sets the selected electronic cassette 16 as the use cassetteand updates the use cassette setting information 58.

In a case in which the use cassette is set as illustrated in (B) of FIG.11, the cassette ID (“DR0003”) and name “C” of the set use cassette aredisplayed in the display field 63 a of the imaging order display region63.

In a case in which the use cassette is set as illustrated in FIG. 12,the use cassette is associated between the registered cassetteinformation 57 and the use cassette setting information 58. The order ID(“OD0002”) is registered for the set use cassette in the use cassettesetting information 58 and is associated between the use cassettesetting information 58 and the imaging order information 59.

Here, in order to distinguish the cassette ID of the use cassette set inthe console 17 from the cassette ID recorded on the memory of theelectronic cassette 16 or the ID marker 32, the cassette ID recorded onthe memory of the electronic cassette 16 or the ID markers 32 isreferred to as a first cassette ID and the cassette ID set in theconsole 17 is referred to as a second cassette ID. The second cassetteID corresponds to second identification information and the firstcassette ID corresponds to first identification information.

The function of the console 17 searching for the electronic cassette 16using the camera 26 will be described with reference to FIGS. 13 to 19.In FIG. 13, the network communication unit 54 acquires the camera image76 captured by the camera 26 through the network 43.

FIG. 14 illustrates an example of the camera image 76 captured by thecamera 26. The camera image 76 includes an aspect of the inside of theimaging room including the bed 21 and the subject H as the usageenvironment of the electronic cassette 16. As illustrated in FIG. 1, aplurality of electronic cassettes 16A to 16D are provided in the imagingroom and the camera image 76 includes the electronic cassettes 16A to16D. The camera image 76 is displayed on the touch panel 33 which is adisplay unit of the console 17 under the display control of the GUIcontroller 51.

In FIG. 13, the search processing unit 55 includes an in-image cassettedetection unit 72, an identification information acquisition unit 73, asearch controller 74, and an image combination unit 75. The searchcontroller 74 acquires, as the second identification information, thesecond cassette ID of the use cassette set in the console 17 as theelectronic cassette 16 used for X-ray imaging with reference to the usecassette setting information 58.

As illustrated in FIG. 15, the in-image cassette detection unit 72detects an in-image cassette region 77 of the electronic cassette 16included in the camera image 76 on the basis of the camera image 76. Thein-image cassette detection unit 72 detects the electronic cassette 16included in the camera image 76 on the basis of the camera image 76,using a known image recognition method such as pattern matching. Forexample, the in-image cassette detection unit 72 extracts a pattern,such as the contour of the electronic cassette 16 or the bed 21, as afeature amount from the camera image 76 and collates the extractedfeature amount with the stored feature information including the contourof the electronic cassette 16. Contour information includes the planarshape of the electronic cassette 16 and the contour of the electroniccassette 16 as viewed from the side or an oblique direction. In a casein which there are features, such as colors, other than the contour ofthe electronic cassette 16, the collation may be performed using thefeature amounts other than the contour.

The in-image cassette detection unit 72 detects a region including thedetected position of the electronic cassette 16 and the peripherythereof as the in-image cassette region 77. Specifically, the in-imagecassette region 77 is output as coordinate information in the cameraimage 76. In a case in which the camera image 76 includes a plurality ofelectronic cassettes 16, the in-image cassette detection unit 72 detectsthe in-image cassette regions 77 of all of the electronic cassettes 16.The in-image cassette detection unit 72 outputs the detected in-imagecassette region 77 as a detection result to the identificationinformation acquisition unit 73.

The identification information acquisition unit 73 detects the ID marker32 attached to the electronic cassette 16 from the in-image cassetteregion 77 on the basis of the camera image 76, using a known imagerecognition method such as pattern matching. Similarly to the detectionof the electronic cassette 16, the ID marker 32 is detected by collatingthe stored feature amount of the ID marker 32 with the feature amountextracted from the camera image 76.

Then, the identification information acquisition unit 73 reads the firstcassette ID from the detected ID marker 32. In this way, theidentification information acquisition unit 73 acquires the firstcassette ID which is the first identification information. Theidentification information acquisition unit 73 outputs the acquiredfirst cassette ID and the information of the in-image cassette region 77corresponding to the first cassette ID to the search controller 74.

In a case in which the first cassette ID is not read from the ID marker32 at the standard magnification of the camera image 76, theidentification information acquisition unit 73 enlarges a portionincluding the ID marker 32 in the camera image 76 as illustrated in FIG.16 and then reads the first cassette ID. The camera image 76 may beenlarged by electronic zooming. In a case in which the camera 26 has azoom function, the search processing unit 55 transmits a zoom command tothe camera 26 on the basis of the processing result of theidentification information acquisition unit 73 to activate the zoomfunction.

In a case in which the first cassette ID and the second cassette ID areacquired, the search controller 74 collates the first and secondcassette IDs. The search controller 74 corresponds to a collation unit.The collation is performed for all of the electronic cassettes 16included in the camera image 76. In a case in which there is a firstcassette ID matched with the second cassette ID on the basis of thecollation result, the search controller 74 determines the electroniccassette 16 with the first cassette ID as the use cassette. In a case inwhich there are no electronic cassettes 16 with the first cassette IDmatched with the second cassette ID, the search controller 74 determinesthat the use cassette is absent in the camera image 76. The searchcontroller 74 performs the determination to check whether the usecassette is included in the camera image 76. As such, the searchcontroller 74 searches for the use cassette in the usage environmentthrough the process using the camera image 76.

As illustrated in FIG. 17, the search controller 74 searches for the usecassette that is included in the camera image 76 and outputs the searchresult. In a case in which there is a use cassette in the camera image76, the search controller 74 generates a cassette region index 78indicating the in-image cassette region 77 of the use cassette in thecamera image 76 as the search result and outputs the cassette regionindex 78 to the image combination unit 75. The cassette region index 78includes, for example, image data forming the index and coordinateinformation indicating the insertion position of the camera image 76. Ina case in which the use cassette is absent in the camera image 76, thesearch controller 74 outputs the search result indicating that the usecassette is absent to the image combination unit 75.

The image combination unit 75 performs an image combination process forthe camera image 76 on the basis of the search result output from thesearch controller 74. In a case in which there is a use cassette, thecassette region index 78 is input from the search controller 74.Therefore, the image combination unit 75 performs a combination processof inserting the cassette region index 78 into the in-image cassetteregion 77 of the use cassette in the camera image 76. In contrast, in acase in which the use cassette is absent, the search result indicatingthat the use cassette is absent is input to the image combination unit75. In this case, the image combination unit 75 performs a combinationprocess of inserting a message indicating that the use cassette isabsent into the camera image 76.

FIG. 17 illustrates a case in which the electronic cassette 16C having acassette ID “DR0003” and a name “cassette C” is set as the use cassetteas illustrated in FIG. 12. Therefore, in the camera image 76 illustratedin FIG. 17, the cassette region index 78 is inserted at the position ofthe in-image cassette region 77 of the electronic cassette 16C set asthe use cassette. The cassette region index 78 includes, for example, anarrow indicating the in-image cassette region 77 and a message “The usecassette (cassette C: DR0003) is near here.”.

The camera 26 outputs the camera image 76 which is a motion picture inreal time. The search processing unit 55 repeats a search processincluding the detection of the in-image cassette region 77 and the firstcassette ID and a process of combining the cassette region index 78 andthe camera image 76 at a predetermined interval on the basis of theoutput camera image 76.

In this way, the combined camera image 76 is frequently updated. In acase in which the position of the electronic cassette 16 is changed inthe usage environment, the position of the cassette region index 78 inthe camera image 76 is also changed.

For example, in a case in which the operator OP puts the electroniccassette 16A held in the arms of the operator OP as illustrated in FIG.17 aside, extracts the electronic cassette 16C from the cradle 22, andholds the electronic cassette 16C as illustrated in FIG. 18, thepositions of the in-image cassette regions 77 of the electroniccassettes 16A and 16C in the camera image 76 are changed. In a case inwhich the position of the electronic cassette 16C which is the usecassette is changed, the position of the cassette region index 78 in thecamera image 76 is also changed.

In a case in which the search controller 74 determines that the usecassette is absent in the camera image 76 as illustrated in FIG. 19, thecamera image 76 into which a message 81 “The use cassette is not amongthe electronic cassettes” indicating that the use cassette is absent isinserted as the search result is displayed.

The operation of the above-mentioned configuration will be describedwith reference to the flowcharts illustrated in FIGS. 20 to 23. In acase in which the operator OP performs X-ray imaging using theelectronic cassette 16, the operator OP selects the use cassette to beused for X-ray imaging from a plurality of electronic cassettes 16. Theuse cassette is selected through the console 17.

The operator OP selects the electronic cassette 16 to be used for X-rayimaging from the registered cassettes on the use cassette selectionscreen 69 illustrated in (A) of FIG. 11 on the basis of the content ofthe imaging order. In a case in which the selection operation isreceived, the console 17 sets the electronic cassette 16 selected by theoperator OP as the use cassette. In a case in which, for example, theelectronic cassette 16C is selected as illustrated in (B) of FIG. 11 andFIG. 12, the selected electronic cassette 16C is set as the usecassette.

The operator OP relatively positions the electronic cassette 16, theX-ray source 13, and the subject H. At that time, in some cases, theoperator OP wants to check whether the electronic cassette 16 to be usedfor X-ray imaging has been set as the use cassette in the console 17. Inparticular, in a case in which the electronic cassette 16 and theconsole 17 are wirelessly connected to each other, the connectionbetween the electronic cassette 16 and the console 17 is not a physicalconnection through a cable, but is only a logical connection on data.Therefore, in a method for visually checking a physical cable, it isdifficult to check whether the electronic cassette has been set as theuse cassette.

In this case, the operator OP uses a use cassette search function of theconsole 17. In a case in which the search function is used, the operatorOP operates the cassette search button 67 on the imaging order displayscreen 61 illustrated in FIG. 9.

As illustrated in FIG. 20, the console 17 waits for the input of asearch process start command during operation (Step S1100). In a case inwhich the cassette search button 67 is operated, the console 17determines that the search process start command has been issued (Y inS1100). The search processing unit 55 determines whether the usecassette has been set with reference to the use cassette settinginformation 58 (S1200). In a case in which the use cassette has been setin the use cassette setting information 58 (Y in S1200), the searchcontroller 74 acquires the second cassette ID of the use cassette withreference to the use cassette setting information 58 (S1300).

In a case in which the use cassette has not been set in S1200 (N inS1200), a warning indicating that the use cassette has not been set isoutput (S1210). Then, the process proceeds to S2500. In a case in whicha search process end command is issued (Y in S2500), the search processends. In a case in which there are no end commands, the process returnsto S1200.

The network communication unit 54 acquires the camera image 76 which isa motion picture that is output from the camera 26 in real time (S1400).As illustrated in FIG. 14, the camera image 76 includes the usageenvironment in which the electronic cassette 16 is used. The acquiredcamera image 76 is input to the in-image cassette detection unit 72 ofthe search processing unit 55.

The in-image cassette detection unit 72 performs an image recognitionprocess on the basis of the camera image 76 to check whether theelectronic cassette 16 is included in the camera image 76 (S1500). In acase in which the electronic cassette 16 is included in the camera image76 (Y in S1500), the in-image cassette detection unit 72 detects thein-image cassette region 77 of the electronic cassette 16 as illustratedin FIG. 15 (S1600). In a case in which a plurality of electroniccassettes 16 are included in the camera image 76, the in-image cassettedetection unit 72 detects the in-image cassette regions 77 of all of theelectronic cassettes 16. The in-image cassette detection unit 72 outputsthe detected in-image cassette region 77 to the identificationinformation acquisition unit 73.

In a case in which the in-image cassette region 77 is input from thein-image cassette detection unit 72, the identification informationacquisition unit 73 performs a first cassette ID acquisition process(S1700).

For example, the first cassette ID acquisition process is performedaccording to the procedure illustrated in the flowchart of S1700Aillustrated in FIG. 21. In the first cassette ID acquisition process inS1700A, first, the identification information acquisition unit 73detects the ID marker 32 from the in-image cassette region 77 in S1701A.Then, in S1702A, the identification information acquisition unit 73reads the first cassette ID from the ID marker 32.

In a case in which the reading has succeeded in S1703A (Y in S1703A),the identification information acquisition unit 73 checks whether thereis another in-image cassette region 77 (S1705A). On the other hand, in acase in which the reading has failed in S1703A (N in S1703A), theidentification information acquisition unit 73 issues a warningindicating that the ID marker 32 is not readable (S1704A). For example,the warning is performed by displaying a warning message on the touchpanel 33 or by outputting a warning sound from a speaker.

In a case in which there is another in-image cassette region 77 (Y inS1705), the process from S1701A to S1704A is performed. Then, in a casein which the process of reading the first cassette IDs from all of thein-image cassette regions 77 has been completed, the identificationinformation acquisition unit 73 outputs the information of the acquiredfirst cassette ID and the acquired in-image cassette region 77 to thesearch controller 74 (S1706A). Then, the identification informationacquisition unit 73 returns to the flow illustrated in FIG. 20 andproceeds to S1800.

Returning to FIG. 20, in a case in which the first cassette ID has beenacquired (Y in S1800), the search controller 74 collates the firstcassette ID with the second cassette ID (S1900). On the other hand, in acase in which no first cassette IDs have been acquired (N in S1800), awarning indicating that no first cassette IDs have been acquired isissued (S1810) and the process proceeds to S2500. In a case in which asearch process end command is issued (Y in S2500), the search processends. In a case in which the end command is not issued, the processreturns to S1200.

In a case in which the collation result shows that the first cassette IDand the second cassette ID are matched with each other (Y in S2000), thesearch controller 74 determines that the electronic cassette 16 with thefirst cassette ID is the use cassette and that the use cassette isincluded in the camera image 76 (S2100).

On the other hand, in a case in which the collation result shows thatthe first cassette ID and the second cassette ID are not matched witheach other (N in S2000), the search controller 74 checks whether thereis another first cassette ID (S2300). In a case in which there isanother first cassette ID (Y in S2300), the process returns to S1900. Ina case in which there is no another first cassette ID (N in S2300), theprocess proceeds to S2400.

In a case in which it is determined that there is a use cassette(S2100), the search controller 74 performs a cassette region indexdisplay process for the use cassette (S2200). For the cassette regionindex display process, for example, a cassette region index displayprocess in S2200A illustrated in FIG. 22 is performed. The searchcontroller 74 generates the cassette region index 78 corresponding tothe in-image cassette region 77 of the use cassette (S2201A) and outputsthe generated cassette region index 78 to the image combination unit 75.Then, the image combination unit 75 combines the camera image 76 and thecassette region index 78 of the use cassette (S2202A). Then, the cameraimage 76 subjected to the combination process illustrated in FIG. 17 isoutput to the GUI controller 51 and is displayed on the touch panel 33which is a display unit (S2203A).

In contrast, as described above, in a case in which the first cassetteID matched with the second cassette ID is absent (N in S2300), theprocess proceeds to S2400 which is performed in a case in which the usecassette is absent.

For the process in a case in which the use cassette is absent, forexample, the search controller 74 outputs a message indicating that theuse cassette is absent as the search result to the image combinationunit 75 as illustrated in S2400A of FIG. 23. As illustrated in FIG. 19,the image combination unit 75 inserts the message indicating that theuse cassette is absent into the camera image 76. The camera image 76subjected to the combination process is displayed on the touch panel 33through the GUI controller 51 (S2401A).

In FIG. 20, the search processing unit 55 repeats the process from S1200to S2400 until a search process end command is issued (N in S2500).

As such, in the X-ray imaging system 10, the console 17 has a functionof searching for the electronic cassette 16 set as the use cassette onthe basis of the camera image 76 obtained by capturing the usageenvironment. In a case in which the use cassette is included in thecamera image 76, the cassette region index 78 indicating the position ofthe use cassette is inserted into the camera image 76 as illustrated inFIG. 17. Therefore, the operator OP can easily find the use cassette setby the console from a plurality of electronic cassettes 16 in the usageenvironment.

After the use cassette is checked, X-ray imaging is performed using theuse cassette. The operator OP positions the X-ray source 13, the usecassette, and the subject H and then operates the irradiation switch 23.Then, the X-ray generation apparatus 11 irradiates the subject H withX-rays and the use cassette acquires an X-ray image of the subject H.The use cassette transmits the acquired X-ray image to the console 17.

In a case in which the use cassette is checked by the function ofsearching for the electronic cassette 16, it is possible to prevent anon-use cassette, which is the electronic cassette 16 other than thepaired use cassette, from being falsely recognized as the use cassettein X-ray imaging.

In a case in which the console 17 and the electronic cassette 16 arewirelessly connected to each other as in this example, it is difficultto check the connection state between the console 17 and the electroniccassette 16 since a visible cable is not used. Therefore, the inventionthat can visualize a logical connection state between the console 17 andthe electronic cassette 16 set as the use cassette in the console 17 isvery effective.

In addition, for example, a seal on which the cassette ID is recordedmay be attached to the housing 28 of the electronic cassette 16 and thecassette ID read from the seal may be collated with the cassette ID setin the console 17. In this case, it is possible to check the electroniccassette 16 set as the use cassette. However, in a case in which thereare a plurality of electronic cassettes 16, it is necessary to performthe check operation for each electronic cassette 16, which requires alot of time and effort. According to the invention, it is possible toreduce the time and effort required for the check operation.

Even in the configuration in which the electronic cassette 16 and theconsole 17 are connected to each other by a cable, the invention iseffective in the following case. For example, in some cases, one console17 is connected to a plurality of electronic cassettes 16 by abifurcated cable or a hub. In this case, similarly to the wirelessconnection, it is difficult to check at a glance which of the pluralityof electronic cassettes 16 connected by the cable is set as the usecassette in the console 17.

In this example, the aspect in which the cassette region index 78 isinserted into the camera image 76 and is then displayed has beendescribed as the display aspect of the cassette region index 78.However, the cassette region index 78 may not be necessarily insertedinto the camera image 76. For example, the cassette region index 78 maybe displayed outside the frame of the camera image 76 as long as it canindicate the region of each electronic cassette 16 in the camera image76.

In this example, in a case in which the use cassette is absent in thecamera image 76, the message 81 indicating that the use cassette isabsent is inserted into the camera image 76 and is then displayed asillustrated in FIG. 19. However, the message 81 is not necessarilydisplayed. In a case in which the use cassette is absent in the cameraimage 76, the camera image 76 in which the message 81 is not insertedmay be displayed. That is, as illustrated in FIG. 14, only the cameraimage 76 may be displayed.

In the flow according to this example illustrated in FIG. 20, the secondcassette ID acquisition process in S1300 is performed before the firstcassette ID acquisition process in S1700. However, the second cassetteID acquisition process may be performed after the first cassette IDacquisition process. The second cassette ID acquisition process may beperformed at any time as long as it is performed until the collationprocess in S1900.

The example in which the camera 26 is provided on the ceiling of theimaging room has been described. However, for example, the camera 26 maybe provided on the wall of the imaging room. In addition, a standincluding a support that extends in the vertical direction and an armwhose angle can be adjusted may be provided and the camera 26 may beattached to the leading end of the arm, instead of being provided on theceiling or the wall. Even in a case in which the camera 26 is providedon the ceiling or the wall, the camera 26 may be attached to the ceilingor the wall through, for example, an arm that can adjust the imagingdirection. That is, in a case in which the usage environment of theelectronic cassette 16 is a room, the camera 26 may be provided at anyposition in the room as long as it can view the usage environment.

In this embodiment, a motion picture is given as an example of thecamera image 76 output from the camera 26. However, the camera image maybe a still image. In the case of the still image, the still images maybe captured at a predetermined interval and then sequentially output. Inthis case, it is possible to check an aspect of a change in the usageenvironment over time.

In each of the subsequent embodiments including the following secondembodiment, the description is focused on a difference from the firstembodiment. In addition, the same components as those in the firstembodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals and thedescription thereof will not be repeated.

Second Embodiment

As in a second embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 24 and 25, in a case inwhich the use cassette is absent in the camera image 76, the emission ofX-rays may be prohibited. For the process in a case in which the usecassette is absent in S2400 of FIG. 20, in the example illustrated inFIG. 23, only the process (S2401A) of displaying the message 81indicating that the use cassette is absent is performed. In the secondembodiment, as illustrated in FIG. 24, in addition to S2401A, a processof prohibiting the irradiation operation of the X-ray generationapparatus 11 is performed (S2402A).

In this case, as illustrated in FIG. 25, the console 17 is provided withan irradiation prohibition signal output unit 82. In a case in which theoperation program 50 is executed, the CPU 41 functions as theirradiation prohibition signal output unit 82. The console 17 and theX-ray generation apparatus 11 are connected such that they communicatewith each other in a wired manner or wirelessly. In a case in which thedetermination result indicating that the use cassette is absent in thecamera image 76 is received from the search processing unit 55, theirradiation prohibition signal output unit 82 transmits an irradiationprohibition signal to the X-ray generation apparatus 11. Then, the X-raygeneration apparatus 11 prohibits irradiation. As such, in a case inwhich the use cassette is absent in the usage environment, the emissionof X-rays is prohibited. Therefore, it is possible to reliably preventan imaging failure in which an X-ray image is not acquired even in acase in which X-rays are emitted.

Third Embodiment

In a third embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 26 to 29, the identificationinformation acquisition unit 73 detects identification light emittedfrom an indicator 84 that is provided in the electronic cassette 16 andacquires the first cassette ID from the camera image 76. In the firstembodiment, for the first cassette ID acquisition process in S1700 ofFIG. 20, the first cassette ID is acquired from the ID marker 32 asillustrated in S1700A of FIG. 21. Instead of acquiring the firstcassette ID from the ID marker 32 as in the first embodiment, theidentification information acquisition unit 73 may acquire the firstcassette ID from the identification light emitted from the indicator 84as in the third embodiment.

As illustrated in FIGS. 26 and 27, in the third embodiment, for example,the indicator 84 is provided at the center of each of four side surfacesof the housing 28 of the electronic cassette 16. The indicator 84 is alight source such as a light emitting diode (LED). The indicator 84 canemit identification light of a plurality of colors such as red, blue,and green.

In the third embodiment, as illustrated in FIG. 28, in the registeredcassette information 57 of the console 17, the color of theidentification light is allocated to each registered electronic cassette16. In this example, “red” is allocated to an electronic cassette 16Awith a cassette ID “DR0001”, “green” is allocated to an electroniccassette 16B with a cassette ID “DR0002”, and “blue” is allocated to anelectronic cassette 16C with a cassette ID “DR0003”. The identificationinformation acquisition unit 73 reads the cassette ID from theidentification light with reference to the registered cassetteinformation 57.

In the third embodiment, the identification information acquisition unit73 performs the first cassette ID acquisition process in S1700B of FIG.29 as the first cassette ID acquisition process in S1700 of FIG. 20,instead of the process in S1700A of FIG. 21 in the first embodiment. Theidentification information acquisition unit 73 detects theidentification light emitted from the indicator 84 from the in-imagecassette region 77 detected by the in-image cassette detection unit 72(S1701B). Then, the identification information acquisition unit 73identifies the color of the identification light and reads the firstcassette ID with reference to the correspondence relationship betweenthe identification light and the cassette ID of the registered cassetteinformation 57 (S1702B). In a case in which the reading of the firstcassette ID has failed (N in S1703B), the identification informationacquisition unit 73 outputs a warning (S1704B). The subsequent processin S1705B and S1706B is the same as the process in S1705A and S1706Adescribed in FIG. 21.

In this example, the identification light is identified on the basis ofthe color and the cassette ID is read. However, the identification lightmay be identified on the basis of a lighting pattern or a lighting time,instead of the color. The lighting pattern is identified by, forexample, a flashing cycle. The lighting time is, for example, the timeuntil the indicator 84 is turned on after a lighting command istransmitted from the console 17 to the electronic cassette 16. Thelighting pattern or the lighting time is recorded for each cassette IDin the registered cassette information 57 in advance. In this case, theidentification information acquisition unit 73 reads the first cassetteID with reference to the registered cassette information 57 using themethod illustrated in FIGS. 28 and 29.

According to the third embodiment, it is possible to acquire thecassette ID, without providing the ID marker 32 in the housing 28.

Fourth Embodiment

In a fourth embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 30 and 31, an identificationinformation request signal (hereinafter, simply referred to as a requestsignal) that requests the first cassette ID is transmitted to theelectronic cassette 16 and the first cassette ID is acquired as aresponse from the electronic cassette 16.

In the fourth embodiment, a request signal transmission unit 86 thattransmits the request signal is provided in the vicinity of the camera26 (for example, on the outer surface of the camera 26). The requestsignal transmission unit 86 transmits the request signal to eachelectronic cassette 16 in the usage environment and receives responsesignals from the electronic cassettes 16 that have received the requestsignal. In addition, the request signal transmission unit 86 isconnected to the network 43, similarly to the camera 26, and cancommunicate with the console 17.

The request signal is, for example, light, electromagnetic waves, orsound waves with directionality. The request signal transmission unit 86has a direction control function of transmitting the request signal in adirection in which each electronic cassette 16 is present. The directioncontrol function is implemented by, for example, a method which providesa rotation mechanism for rotating a transmitter that transmits therequest signal in the request signal transmission unit 86 or a methodwhich provides a plurality of transmitters in different directions inthe request signal transmission unit 86. In this case, the electroniccassette 16 is provided with a transmitting and receiving unit thatreceives the request signal and transmits a response signal according tothe form of the request signal such as light, electromagnetic waves, orsound waves.

The request signal that has been transmitted to a specific electroniccassette 16 by the direction control function of the request signaltransmission unit 86 is not received by other electronic cassettes 16.Therefore, a response signal to the request signal can be determined tobe a response signal transmitted from the electronic cassette 16 that ispresent in the transmission direction of the request signal.

For example, in a case in which the request signal transmission unit 86transmits the request signal to the electronic cassette 16C in FIG. 30,the request signal is not received by the electronic cassette 16A and isreceived by only the electronic cassette 16C. Therefore, only theelectronic cassette 16C transmits a response signal to the requestsignal. The response signal can be determined to be a response signaltransmitted from the electronic cassette 16C. The response signalincludes the cassette ID of the electronic cassette 16C.

The identification information acquisition unit 73 functions as adirection detection unit that detects the direction in which theelectronic cassette 16 is present in the usage environment on the basisof the in-image cassette region 77 input from the in-image cassettedetection unit 72. Since the request signal transmission unit 86 isprovided in the vicinity of the camera 26, the direction of theelectronic cassette 16 detected by the identification informationacquisition unit 73 on the basis of the camera image 76 is substantiallymatched with the actual direction in which the electronic cassette 16 ispresent in the usage environment.

The search processing unit 55 transmits a transmission command includingthe indication of the direction detected by the identificationinformation acquisition unit 73 to the request signal transmission unit86 through the network 43. The request signal transmission unit 86transmits the request signal in the indicated direction, that is, thedirection detected by the identification information acquisition unit 73(direction detection unit) in response to the received transmissioncommand and receives a response signal. The request signal transmissionunit 86 transmits the response signal to the console 17 through thenetwork 43.

In the fourth embodiment, for the first cassette ID acquisition processin S1700 illustrated in FIG. 20, a first cassette ID acquisition processin S1700C illustrated in FIG. 31 is performed. The identificationinformation acquisition unit 73 detects the direction in which theelectronic cassette 16 is present in the usage environment on the basisof the in-image cassette region 77 detected by the in-image cassettedetection unit 72 (S1701C).

The request signal transmission unit 86 transmits a first cassette IDrequest signal in the detected direction (S1702C). In a case in whichthe request signal transmission unit 86 receives a response signal (Y inS1703C), a response signal including the first cassette ID istransmitted to the console 17. Then, the identification informationacquisition unit 73 acquires the first cassette ID. In a case in whichthe request signal transmission unit 86 does not receive a responsesignal (N in S1703C), a warning indicating that a response signal (firstcassette ID) is not capable of being received is issued (S1704C). Thesubsequent process in S1705C and S1706C is the same as that in S1705Aand S1706A described in FIG. 21.

Fifth Embodiment

In a fifth embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 32 and 33, for the cassetteregion index display process in S2200 illustrated in FIG. 20, thecassette region indices 78 for all of the electronic cassettes 16included in the camera image 76 are displayed. In the first embodiment,as illustrated in FIG. 17, the cassette region index 78 for only the usecassette is displayed. However, as in the fifth embodiment, the cassetteregion indices 78 for all of the electronic cassettes 16 may bedisplayed.

In the fifth embodiment, for the process in S2200 illustrated in FIG.20, a cassette region index display process in S2200B illustrated inFIG. 32 is performed. As described above, in a case in which a pluralityof electronic cassettes 16 are included in the camera image 76, thein-image cassette detection unit 72 detects the in-image cassetteregions 77 of all of the electronic cassettes 16 included in the cameraimage 76. Then, the identification information acquisition unit 73acquires the first cassette IDs from all of the in-image cassetteregions 77 and outputs the information of the first cassette IDs and thein-image cassette regions 77 to the search controller 74.

The search controller 74 generates the cassette region indices 78 forall of the electronic cassettes 16 including the use cassette in thecamera image 76, on the basis of the first cassette IDs and the in-imagecassette regions 77 (S2201B).

The search controller 74 stores the collation results between the secondcassette ID and a plurality of first cassettes ID and determines whethereach of a plurality of in-image cassette regions 77 is the in-imagecassette region 77 of the use cassette or the in-image cassette region77 of the electronic cassette other than the use cassette. Then, thesearch controller 74 changes the cassette region index 78 of the usecassette and the cassette region indices 78 of the other electroniccassettes 16 to different aspects (S2202B).

The image combination unit 75 combines all of the generated cassetteregion indices 78 and the camera image 76. The combined camera image 76is displayed on the touch panel 33 which is a display unit through theGUI controller 51 (S2204B).

Specifically, the combined camera image 76 is as illustrated in FIG. 33.A cassette region index 78A for the use cassette (electronic cassette16C) is inserted into the in-image cassette region 77 of the usecassette in the camera image 76 and cassette region indices 78B for theelectronic cassettes other than the use cassette are inserted into thein-image cassette regions 77 of the electronic cassettes 16A, 16B, and16D other than the use cassette.

For example, the cassette region index 78A and the cassette region index78B are different in shape and the content of a message. Each messageincludes the name and cassette ID of the electronic cassette 16. Thecassette region index 78A includes a message indicating the usecassette. As the aspect in which the cassette region indices 78A and 78Bare distinguished from each other, various aspects in which colors arechanged and one of the indicators is blinked unlike this embodiment areconsidered. Any aspect may be used as long as it can distinguish thecassette region indices 78A and 78B.

As such, since the cassette region indices 78 for all of the electroniccassettes 16 included in the camera image 76 are displayed, it ispossible to check all of the electronic cassettes 16 in the usageenvironment at a glance. This display aspect is conveniently used in,for example, a case in which the cassette IDs of all of the electroniccassettes 16 in the usage environment are checked or a case in which adesired electronic cassette 16 is not found.

In the fifth embodiment, the following process may be performed in acase in which a plurality of electronic cassettes 16 are included in thecamera image 76 and the use cassette is not among the plurality ofelectronic cassettes 16 as illustrated in FIGS. 34 and 35. That is, aprocess is performed which receives a selection operation of selectingany one of the electronic cassettes 16 as the use cassette through thecamera image 76.

In this case, the search controller 74 generates the cassette regionindices 78B for the in-image cassette regions 77 of all of theelectronic cassettes 16 in the camera image 76 and outputs the cassetteregion indices 78B. The image combination unit 75 inserts all of thegenerated cassette region indices 78B into the camera image 76 asillustrated in FIG. 34. In the fifth embodiment, each of the cassetteregion indices 78B functions as a selection operation portion for theselection operation of selecting any one of the plurality of electroniccassettes 16 in the camera image 76 as the use cassette. The searchcontroller 74 receives the input of an operation for the cassette regionindices 78B displayed on the touch panel 33 through the GUI controller51.

In the fifth embodiment, as the process in S2400 illustrated in FIG. 20,a process in S2400C illustrated in FIG. 35 is performed. The imagecombination unit 75 inserts a message indicating that the use cassetteis absent into the camera image 76 and the camera image 76 having themessage inserted thereinto is displayed on the touch panel 33 throughthe GUI controller 51 (S2401C).

The search controller 74 generates the cassette region indices 78B forall of the electronic cassettes 16 in the camera image 76 so as tofunction as the selection operation portions and outputs the cassetteregion indices 78B to the image combination unit 75. The imagecombination unit 75 inserts the generated cassette region indices 78Binto the camera image 76 and displays the cassette region indices 78B asthe selection operation portions (S2402C). In addition, the imagecombination unit 75 inserts a message prompting the operator to selectthe electronic cassette 16 to be set as the use cassette, for example, amessage “Please select any of the cassette region indices if you selectthe use cassette from the electronic cassettes” into the camera image 76and displays the camera image 76 (S2403C).

The operator OP sees the camera image 76 displayed on the touch panel 33and touches the cassette region index 78B corresponding to theelectronic cassette 16 selected as the use cassette. The searchcontroller 74 receives the touch operation through the GUI controller51. In a case in which the electronic cassette has been selected by thetouch operation (Y in S2404C), the search controller 74 accesses the usecassette setting information 58 and sets the selected electroniccassette 16 as the use cassette (S2405C).

As such, in a case in which the use cassette can be set through thecassette region index 78 displayed on the camera image 76, for example,the operation is simpler than that in a case in which the use cassetteselection screen 69 illustrated in (A) of FIG. 11 is displayed and theuse cassette is set. In addition, since the cassette region indices 78are displayed in the camera image 76, the operator OP can select the usecassette while checking the outward shape of the electronic cassettes 16corresponding to each cassette region index 78. Therefore, a selectionerror, such as the selection of a wrong size, does not occur.

Sixth Embodiment

A sixth embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 36 and 37 relates to an exampleof a process in a case in which, after the field of view of the cameraimage 76 is changed, the use cassette included in the camera image 76disappears from the camera image 76.

(A) of FIG. 36 illustrates an aspect of the usage environment before thefield of view of the camera image 76 is changed and (B) of FIG. 36illustrates an aspect of the usage environment after the field of viewof the camera image 76 is changed. As illustrated in (A) of FIG. 36, theelectronic cassette 16C set as the use cassette is included in thecamera image 76 before the field of view is changed. Therefore, thecassette region index 78 for the in-image cassette region 77 of theelectronic cassette 16C is displayed. In this state, for example, in acase in which the camera 26 faces the right and the field of view of thecamera image 76 is moved to the right, the electronic cassette 16Cdisappears from the camera image 76 after the field of view is changedas illustrated in (B) of FIG. 36.

In this case, a direction index 88 indicating the direction in which theuse cassette is present in the camera image 76 before the field of viewis changed is displayed in the camera image 76. The direction in whichthe use cassette (in this example, the electronic cassette 16C) has beenpresent in the camera image 76 illustrated in (A) of FIG. 36 before thefield of view is changed in this example is the lower left side of thecamera image 76. Then, in a case in which the field of view of thecamera image 76 is moved to the right, the use cassette (in thisexample, the electronic cassette 16C) disappears from the camera image76. Therefore, in the camera image 76 illustrated in (B) of FIG. 36after the field of view is changed is used, the direction in which theuse cassette is present is the left direction on the lower left side ofthe camera image 76 after the field of view is changed. The directionindex 88 indicating the direction is displayed in the camera image 76.For example, an index with an arrow shape indicating the direction and amessage “The use cassette is in this direction” are displayed in thedirection index 88.

In addition, a message “The use cassette is absent in this camera image”indicating that the use cassette is absent in the camera image 76 isdisplayed in the camera image 76 illustrated in (B) of FIG. 36 after thefield of view is changed.

In the sixth embodiment, S2400D illustrated in FIG. 37 is performed asthe process in S2400 illustrated in FIG. 20. In a case in which the usecassette is determined to be present in the camera image 76, the searchcontroller 74 stores the determination result and the in-image cassetteregion 77 of the use cassette in the camera image 76.

Then, in a case in which it is determined that the use cassette isabsent in the camera image 76 due to a change in the field of view ofthe camera image 76, the search controller 74 performs the process inS2400D. The search controller 74 determines whether the use cassette hasbeen present before the field of view is changed on the basis of theprevious determination result (S2401D). Then, in a case in which the usecassette has not been present before the field of view is changed (N onS2401D), the image combination unit 75 displays a message indicatingthat the use cassette is absent (S2405D). Then, the process returns tothe flow of FIG. 20.

On the other hand, in a case in which the use cassette has been presentbefore the field of view is changed (Y on S2401D), the image combinationunit 75 displays a message indicating that the use cassette is presentin the camera image 76 (S2402D). In addition, the search controller 74determines the direction in which the use cassette has been presentbefore the field of view is changed on the basis of the previousdetermination result and the stored information of the in-image cassetteregion 77 of the use cassette (S2403D). Then, as illustrated in (B) ofFIG. 36, the image combination unit 75 displays the direction index 88corresponding to the determined direction in the camera image 76 afterthe field of view is changed (S2404D).

Seventh Embodiment

A seventh embodiment illustrated in FIG. 38 relates an example in whichstatus information indicating an operating state is used as the firstidentification information and the second identification information ofthe electronic cassette 16, instead of the cassette ID. The firstidentification information and the second identification information areused to specify one electronic cassette 16 among a plurality ofelectronic cassettes 16. The status information can be used as the firstidentification information and the second identification information forspecifying the use cassette as long as it can indicate that the statusof the use cassette is different from the status of the other electroniccassettes 16 among a plurality of electronic cassettes 16 in the usageenvironment.

In FIG. 38, in the electronic cassette 16 according to the seventhembodiment, the housing 28 includes the indicators 84 as in the thirdembodiment illustrated in FIGS. 26 and 27. In the seventh embodiment,the indicator 84 can emit identification light indicating the status,such as a ready status, a sleep status, or a power-off status. Thestatus identified by the identification light corresponds to the firstidentification information.

As illustrated in FIG. 38, the following lighting patterns of theidentification light for each status are recorded in specificationinformation of the registered cassette information 57: “fast flashing”indicates the “ready” status; “slow flashing” indicates the “sleep”status; and “no light” indicates the “power-off” status.

As illustrated in FIGS. 7 and 12, the status of the set use cassette isrecorded in the use cassette setting information 58. The status recordedin the use cassette setting information 58 corresponds to the secondidentification information. As described above, in this example, thecassette controller 52 (see FIG. 5) of the console 17 changes the statusof the electronic cassette 16 set as the use cassette from the power-offstatus or the sleep status to the ready status. The cassette controller52 does not control the electronic cassettes 16 other than the usecassette. Therefore, the electronic cassettes 16 other than the usecassette are in the power-off status or the sleep status. Under thisassumption, only the electronic cassette 16 that is in the ready statusin the usage environment becomes the use cassette.

The identification information acquisition unit 73 recognizes thelighting pattern of the identification light of the indicator 84 on thebasis of the camera image 76 and acquires the status information(corresponding to the first identification information) of theelectronic cassette 16. The search controller 74 collates the firstidentification information with the status information (corresponding tothe second identification information) of the use cassette acquired fromthe use cassette setting information 58 and determines whether the usecassette is included in the camera image 76.

As described above, only the electronic cassette 16 that is in the“ready” status in the usage environment is the use cassette and only theelectronic cassette 16 that is in the “ready” status in the use cassettesetting information 58 is the use cassette. Therefore, in a case inwhich there is an electronic cassette 16 that is in the “ready” statusamong the electronic cassettes 16 included in the camera image 76, thesearch controller 74 determines the electronic cassette 16 as the usecassette.

As such, the status information other than the cassette ID can be usedas the first identification information and the second identificationinformation. Therefore, according to the seventh embodiment, it ispossible to achieve the function of searching for the electroniccassette 16, without providing the ID marker 32 on the housing 28. Inaddition, even in a case in which the indicator 84 does not have afunction of emitting identification light indicating the cassette ID, itis possible to achieve the search function of the invention.

In this example, the status is identified by the lighting pattern of theidentification light. However, similarly to the identification of thecassette ID, the status may be identified by the color of theidentification light or the lighting time.

Eighth Embodiment

In an eighth embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 39 and 40, the function ofsearching for the electronic cassette 16 is applied to achieve anarrangement order display function of displaying the arrangement orderof a plurality of electronic cassettes 16 in a case in which long-lengthimaging is performed using the plurality of electronic cassettes 16.

As illustrated in FIG. 39, in the long-length imaging, for example, twoor more electronic cassettes 16 are arranged in order to capture animage of a long range such as the whole lower limb of the subject H. Theplurality of electronic cassettes 16 are irradiated with X-rayssequentially or at the same time. Then, a plurality of X-ray imagesdetected by each electronic cassette 16 are combined to generate oneX-ray image indicating a long imaging range such as the whole lower limbof the subject H.

In the long-length imaging, in a case in which three electroniccassettes 16A, 16C, and 16E are used as illustrated in (A) of FIG. 39,the electronic cassettes 16A, 16C, and 16E are arranged in a line on thebed 21 on which the subject H lies. The electronic cassettes 16A, 16C,and 16E are arranged on the bed 21 in the order of the electroniccassettes 16A, 16E, and 16C from the head of the subject H.

In a case in which the long-length imaging is performed, a plurality of(in this example, three) electronic cassettes 16 used in the long-lengthimaging are set as the use cassettes in the use cassette settinginformation 58 as illustrated in FIG. 40. In the case of the long-lengthimaging, in the use cassette setting information 58, an arrangementorder item is added in addition to the imaging order item and thearrangement order of the three electronic cassettes 16 set as the usecassettes are designated in the arrangement order item. In the exampleillustrated in FIG. 40, an electronic cassette 16A with a name “cassetteA” and a cassette ID “DR0001” is designated first, an electroniccassette 16C with a name “cassette C” and a cassette ID “DR0003” isdesignated second, and an electronic cassette 16E with a name “cassetteE” and a cassette ID “DR0005” is designated third.

In a case in which the aspect illustrated in (A) of FIG. 39 is capturedby the camera 26, of course, the three electronic cassette 16A, 16C, and16E are included in the camera image 76 as illustrated in (B) of FIG.39. The three electronic cassettes 16A, 16C, and 16E are set as the usecassettes in the use cassette setting information 58 illustrated in FIG.40. In the search processing unit 55, the in-image cassette detectionunit 72 detects the in-image cassette regions 77 of the electroniccassettes 16A, 16C, and 16E in the camera image 76 on the basis of thecamera image 76. The identification information acquisition unit 73acquires the first cassette IDs of the electronic cassettes 16A, 16C,and 16E in the detected in-image cassette regions 77 on the basis of thecamera image 76.

The search controller 74 generates the cassette region indices 78 at thepositions corresponding to the in-image cassette regions 77 of theelectronic cassettes 16A, 16C, and 16E and outputs the cassette regionindices 78 to the image combination unit 75. The cassette region indices78 include the names and the first cassette IDs, which are the firstidentification information items, of the electronic cassettes 16A, 16C,and 16E. The arrangement order of the cassette region indices 78reflects the actual arrangement order of the electronic cassettes 16A,16C, and 16E in the usage environment. In the example illustrated inFIG. 39, the electronic cassette 16A (cassette A: DR0001), theelectronic cassette 16E (cassette E: DR0005), and the electroniccassette 16C (cassette C: DR0003) are arranged in this order from thehead of the subject H.

The arrangement order of the cassette region indices 78 corresponds tofirst arrangement order information in which the arrangement order ofthe electronic cassettes 16A, 16C, and 16E is represented by the firstidentification information (first cassette ID). The image combinationunit 75 combines the camera image 76 and the cassette region indices 78.In this way, the first arrangement order information is displayed in thecamera image 76.

In addition, the search controller 74 reads the arrangement order fromthe use cassette setting information 58 and outputs the arrangementorder as arrangement order information 89 indicated by the secondcassette ID to the image combination unit 75. The image combination unit75 generates an arrangement order screen 91 on which the cassette regionindices 78 corresponding to the first arrangement order information andthe arrangement order information 89 corresponding to the secondarrangement order information are displayed in parallel as illustratedin FIG. 40. The arrangement order screen 91 is displayed on the touchpanel 33.

While the electronic cassettes 16A, 16C, and 16E are actually arrangedin the order of “A”, “E”, and “C”, the electronic cassettes 16A, 16C,and 16E are arranged in the order of “A”, “C”, and “E” in thearrangement order information 89 which is the set arrangement order.Therefore, the operator OP can see the arrangement order screen 91 tocheck that the actual arrangement order of the electronic cassettes 16A,16C, and 16E is wrong.

Ninth Embodiment

A ninth embodiment illustrated in FIG. 41 relates to an example in whichthe camera 92 is not provided on the ceiling of the imaging room, but isprovided in a treatment cart 93. The treatment cart 93 has, for example,the functions of an X-ray generation apparatus including an X-ray source94 and the functions of a console on a carriage that can travel. Thetreatment cart 93 is provided with a touch panel 96 as a display unit ofthe console. An X-ray imaging system 100 includes the treatment cart 93and the electronic cassette 16.

A camera 92 has the same functions as the camera 26 and is provided on ahousing of the X-ray source 94. The camera 92 outputs the camera image76 similarly to the camera 26 and the camera image 76 is displayed onthe touch panel 96. As such, in a case in which the camera 92 isprovided in the treatment cart 93, it is also possible to capture theusage environment in which the electronic cassette 16 is used.Therefore, the use of the X-ray imaging system 100 makes it possible toachieve the same electronic cassette search function as that in each ofthe above-described embodiments.

In X-ray imaging in a hospital room in which the treatment cart 93 isused, in some cases, a plurality of electronic cassettes 16 are carriedin the hospital room. In this case, similarly to the case of the imagingroom illustrated in FIG. 1, it is difficult to identify the use cassetteamong the electronic cassettes 16. Therefore, the invention is alsoeffective in the ninth embodiment in which the camera 92 is provided inthe treatment cart 93.

In each of the above-described embodiments, the example in which theconsole 17 has the use cassette search function has been described.However, the search function may be provided in an apparatus other thanthe console 17 or may be provided in a dedicated apparatus.

The camera image 76 according to each of the above-described embodimentsmay be used to check the external injuries of a patient, in addition tobeing used for the use cassette search function.

In each of the above-described embodiments, for example, the hardwarestructures of the processing units performing various processes, such asthe GUI controller 51, the search processing unit 55, the in-imagecassette detection unit 72, the identification information acquisitionunit 73, the search controller 74, and the image combination unit 75,are the following various processors.

Various processors include, for example, a CPU, a programmable logicdevice (PLD), and a dedicated electric circuit. The CPU is ageneral-purpose processor that executes software (program) to functionas various processing units as it is known. The PLD is a processor whosecircuit configuration can be changed after it is manufactured, such as afield programmable gate array (FPGA). The dedicated electric circuit isa processor having a dedicated circuit configuration designed to performa specific process, such as an application specific integrated circuit(ASIC).

One processing unit may be one of the various processors or acombination of two or more processors of the same type or differenttypes (for example, a combination of a plurality of FPGAs and acombination of a CPU and an FPGA). In addition, a plurality ofprocessing units may be formed by one processor. As an example in whicha plurality of processing units are formed by one processor, first, oneprocessor is formed by a combination of one or more CPUs and softwareand the processor functions as the plurality of processing units.Second, a processor which is typified by a system-on-chip (SoC) and inwhich the overall function of a system including a plurality ofprocessing units is implemented by one IC chip is used. As such, thehardware structure of various processing units is formed by one or moreof the various processors.

In addition, specifically, the hardware structure of the variousprocessors is an electric circuit (circuitry) which is a combination ofcircuit elements such as semiconductor elements.

An invention described in the following Supplementary Note 1 can beunderstood from the above description.

Supplementary Note 1

A radiography system includes: an electronic cassette that detects aradiographic image based on radiation which has been emitted from aradiation generation apparatus and transmitted through a subject; aconsole that communicates with the electronic cassette to acquire theradiographic image; a camera image acquisition processor that acquires acamera image, which indicates a usage environment including a place inwhich the electronic cassette is used and a periphery of the place, froman optical camera that captures the usage environment; an in-imagecassette detection processor that detects the electronic cassetteincluded in the camera image on the basis of the camera image andoutputs an in-image cassette region of the detected electronic cassette;an identification information acquisition processor that acquiresidentification information of the electronic cassette included in thecamera image as first identification information on the basis of thecamera image; a collation processor that collates the firstidentification information with second identification information whichis identification information of a use cassette set as the electroniccassette used for radiography in the console; a search control processorthat determines the electronic cassette having the first identificationinformation matched with the second identification information as theuse cassette on the basis of a collation result of the collationprocessor, determines whether the use cassette is present in the cameraimage, generates a cassette region index indicating the in-imagecassette region of the use cassette in a case in which the use cassetteis determined to be present in the camera image, and outputs thecassette region index as a search result; and a display controlprocessor that performs control such that the cassette region index andthe camera image are displayed on a display unit.

Inventions described in the following Supplementary Notes 2 and 3 can beunderstood from the above description.

Supplementary Note 2

There is provided an operation program that causes a computer to executea process performed by a radiography system including an electroniccassette that detects a radiographic image based on radiation which hasbeen emitted from a radiation generation apparatus and transmittedthrough a subject and a console that communicates with the electroniccassette to acquire the radiographic image. The process includes: acamera image acquisition step of acquiring a camera image, whichindicates a usage environment including a place in which the electroniccassette is used and a periphery of the place, from an optical camerawhich captures the usage environment; an in-image cassette detectionstep of detecting the electronic cassette included in the camera imageon the basis of the camera image and outputting an in-image cassetteregion of the detected electronic cassette; an identificationinformation acquisition step of acquiring identification information ofthe electronic cassette included in the camera image as firstidentification information on the basis of the camera image; a collationstep of collating the first identification information with secondidentification information which is identification information of a usecassette set as the electronic cassette used for radiography in theconsole; a search control step of determining the electronic cassettehaving the first identification information matched with the secondidentification information as the use cassette on the basis of acollation result in the collation step, determining whether the usecassette is present in the camera image, generating a cassette regionindex indicating the in-image cassette region of the use cassette in acase in which the use cassette is determined to be present in the cameraimage, and outputting the cassette region index as a search result; anda display control step of performing control such that the cassetteregion index and the camera image are displayed on a display unit.

Supplementary Note 3

There is provided a search apparatus that is used in a radiographysystem including an electronic cassette that detects a radiographicimage based on radiation which has been emitted from a radiationgeneration apparatus and transmitted through a subject and a consolethat communicates with the electronic cassette to acquire theradiographic image, searches for the electronic cassette, and includes:a camera image acquisition unit that acquires a camera image, whichindicates a usage environment including a place in which the electroniccassette is used and a periphery of the place, from an optical camerathat captures the usage environment; an in-image cassette detection unitthat detects the electronic cassette included in the camera image on thebasis of the camera image and outputs an in-image cassette region of thedetected electronic cassette; an identification information acquisitionunit that acquires identification information of the electronic cassetteincluded in the camera image as first identification information on thebasis of the camera image; a collation unit that collates the firstidentification information with second identification information whichis identification information of a use cassette set as the electroniccassette used for radiography in the console; a search controller thatdetermines the electronic cassette having the first identificationinformation matched with the second identification information as theuse cassette on the basis of a collation result of the collation unit,determines whether the use cassette is present in the camera image,generates a cassette region index indicating the in-image cassetteregion of the use cassette in a case in which the use cassette isdetermined to be present in the camera image, and outputs the cassetteregion index as a search result; and a display controller that performscontrol such that the cassette region index and the camera image aredisplayed on a display unit.

The invention is not limited to the X-rays and can also be applied to acase in which other types of radiation including y-rays are used.

The invention is not limited to each of the above-described embodimentsand can adopt various configurations without departing from the scopeand spirit of the invention. In addition, the invention can be appliedto a program and a storage medium storing the program.

EXPLANATION OF REFERENCES

10, 100: X-ray imaging system

11: X-ray generation apparatus

12: X-ray imaging apparatus

13, 94: X-ray source

13 a: X-ray tube

13 b: irradiation field limiter

13 c: support

14: radiation source control device

16, 16A, 16B, 16C, 16D, 16E: electronic cassette

17: console

21: bed

22: cradle

23: irradiation switch

26, 92: camera

28: housing

29: communication unit

31: battery

32: marker

33, 96: touch panel

34: input device

35: storage device

36: memory

38: data bus

41: CPU

43: network

44: server

50: operation program

51: GUI controller

52: cassette controller

53: X-ray image processing unit

54: network communication unit

55: search processing unit

57: registered cassette information

58: use cassette setting information

59: imaging order information

61: imaging order display screen

62: patient information display region

63: imaging order display region

63 a: display field

64: image display region

66: cassette selection button

67: cassette search button

68: setting button

69: use cassette selection screen

72: in-image cassette detection unit

73: identification information acquisition unit

74: search controller

75: image combination unit

76: camera image

77: in-image cassette region

78, 78A, 78B: cassette region index

81: message

82: irradiation prohibition signal output unit

84: indicator

86: request signal transmission unit

88: direction index

89: arrangement order information

91: arrangement order screen

93: treatment cart

H: subject

OP: operator

What is claimed is:
 1. A radiography system comprising: an electroniccassette that detects a radiographic image based on radiation which hasbeen emitted from a radiation generation apparatus and transmittedthrough a subject; a console that communicates with the electroniccassette to acquire the radiographic image; a camera image acquisitionunit that acquires a camera image, which indicates a usage environmentincluding a place in which the electronic cassette is used and aperiphery of the place, from an optical camera that captures the usageenvironment; an in-image cassette detection unit that detects theelectronic cassette included in the camera image on the basis of thecamera image and outputs an in-image cassette region of the detectedelectronic cassette; an identification information acquisition unit thatacquires identification information of the electronic cassette includedin the camera image as first identification information on the basis ofthe camera image; a collation unit that collates the firstidentification information with second identification information whichis identification information of a use cassette set as the electroniccassette used for radiography in the console; a search controller thatdetermines the electronic cassette having the first identificationinformation matched with the second identification information as theuse cassette on the basis of a collation result of the collation unit,determines whether the use cassette is present in the camera image,generates a cassette region index indicating the in-image cassetteregion of the use cassette in a case in which the use cassette isdetermined to be present in the camera image, and outputs the cassetteregion index as a search result; and a display controller that performscontrol such that the cassette region index and the camera image aredisplayed on a display unit.
 2. The radiography system according toclaim 1, wherein the camera image is a motion picture or a still image.3. The radiography system according to claim 1, wherein the camera isprovided in the radiation generation apparatus or is provided in a roomin a case in which the usage environment is an indoor environment. 4.The radiography system according to claim 1, wherein the firstidentification information and the second identification informationinclude a first cassette ID and a second cassette ID, each of whichincludes a character string uniquely given to each electronic cassette,respectively.
 5. The radiography system according to claim 4, wherein,in a case in which an ID marker indicating the first cassette ID isattached to an outer surface of the electronic cassette, theidentification information acquisition unit detects the ID marker fromthe camera image and acquires the first cassette ID, and the collationunit collates the first cassette ID with the second cassette ID.
 6. Theradiography system according to claim 1, wherein each of the firstidentification information and the second identification informationincludes information indicating an operating state of the electroniccassette.
 7. The radiography system according to claim 1, wherein, in acase in which a light source that emits identification light which islight indicating the first identification information is provided in theelectronic cassette, the identification information acquisition unitdetects the identification light from the camera image and acquires thefirst identification information.
 8. The radiography system according toclaim 7, wherein the identification light is identified on the basis ofat least one of a color, a lighting pattern, or a lighting time.
 9. Theradiography system according to claim 1, further comprising: a directiondetection unit that detects a direction in which the electronic cassetteis present in the usage environment on the basis of the in-imagecassette region; and a request signal transmission unit that transmitsan identification information request signal for requesting the firstidentification information to the electronic cassette, wherein, in acase in which the electronic cassette is included in the camera image,the request signal transmission unit transmits the identificationinformation request signal in the direction detected by the directiondetection unit and receives the first identification information as aresponse from the electronic cassette, and the identificationinformation acquisition unit acquires the first identificationinformation received by the request signal transmission unit.
 10. Theradiography system according to claim 1, wherein the identificationinformation acquisition unit outputs a warning in a case in which theelectronic cassette is included in the camera image, but the firstidentification information is not capable of being acquired from theelectronic cassette.
 11. The radiography system according to claim 1,wherein, in a case in which a plurality of the electronic cassettes areincluded in the camera image, the search controller outputs only thecassette region index for the use cassette among all of the electroniccassettes in the camera image.
 12. The radiography system according toclaim 1, wherein, in a case in which a plurality of the electroniccassettes are included in the camera image, the in-image cassettedetection unit detects the in-image cassette regions of all of theelectronic cassettes in the camera image, the search controllergenerates the cassette region indices indicating the in-image cassetteregions of all of the electronic cassettes, and in a case in which theuse cassette is present in the camera image, the search controlleroutputs the cassette region indices of the use cassette and theelectronic cassettes other than the use cassette in different aspects.13. The radiography system according to claim 1, wherein, in a case inwhich the use cassette is absent in the camera image, the searchcontroller outputs, as the search result, a message indicating that theuse cassette is absent in the camera image.
 14. The radiography systemaccording to claim 1, wherein, in a case in which the use cassette isabsent in the camera image, the display controller displays only thecamera image on the display unit.
 15. The radiography system accordingto claim 1, wherein, in a case in which a plurality of the electroniccassettes are included in the camera image and do not include the usecassette, the search controller outputs a selection operation portionfor selecting any one of the plurality of electronic cassettes includedin the camera image as the use cassette, receives an input of anoperation for the selection operation portion through the selectionoperation portion displayed on the display unit, and sets the selectedelectronic cassette as the use cassette.
 16. The radiography systemaccording to claim 1, wherein, in a case in which a field of view of thecamera image is changed and the use cassette that has been present inthe camera image before the field of view is changed disappears from thecamera image after the field of view is changed, the search controlleroutputs a direction index indicating a direction in which the usecassette that has been present in the camera image before the field ofview is changed is present, and the display controller displays thecamera image whose field of view has been changed and the directionindex on the display unit.
 17. The radiography system according to claim1, further comprising: an irradiation prohibition signal output unitthat outputs an irradiation prohibition signal for prohibiting the startof the emission of the radiation in the radiation generation apparatusin a case in which the use cassette is absent in the camera image. 18.The radiography system according to claim 1, wherein, in long-lengthimaging in which radiography is performed, with two or more ofelectronic cassettes arranged in a line, and a plurality of radiographicimages detected by the electronic cassettes are combined to generate aradiographic image indicating a long imaging range, in a case in which aplurality of electronic cassettes are included in the camera image andinclude two or more use cassettes, the search controller outputs thecassette region indices indicating the in-image cassette regions of thetwo or more use cassettes in the camera image.
 19. The radiographysystem according to claim 18, wherein, in a case in which an arrangementorder of the plurality of electronic cassettes used for the long-lengthimaging is set in the console, the search controller generates anarrangement order screen on which first arrangement order information inwhich the arrangement order of the plurality of electronic cassettesincluded in the camera image is represented by the first identificationinformation and second arrangement order information in which anarrangement order of the plurality of electronic cassettes set in theconsole is represented by the second identification information aredisplayed in parallel.
 20. A method for operating a radiography systemcomprising an electronic cassette that detects a radiographic imagebased on radiation which has been emitted from a radiation generationapparatus and transmitted through a subject and a console thatcommunicates with the electronic cassette to acquire the radiographicimage, the method comprising: a camera image acquisition step ofacquiring a camera image, which indicates a usage environment includinga place in which the electronic cassette is used and a periphery of theplace, from an optical camera that captures the usage environment; anin-image cassette detection step of detecting the electronic cassetteincluded in the camera image on the basis of the camera image andoutputting an in-image cassette region of the detected electroniccassette; an identification information acquisition step of acquiringidentification information of the electronic cassette included in thecamera image as first identification information on the basis of thecamera image; a collation step of collating the first identificationinformation with second identification information which isidentification information of a use cassette set as the electroniccassette used for radiography in the console; a search control step ofdetermining the electronic cassette having the first identificationinformation matched with the second identification information as theuse cassette on the basis of a collation result in the collation step,determining whether the use cassette is present in the camera image,generating a cassette region index indicating the in-image cassetteregion of the use cassette in a case in which the use cassette isdetermined to be present in the camera image, and outputting thecassette region index as a search result; and a display control step ofperforming control such that the cassette region index and the cameraimage are displayed on a display unit.